Academic Conduct Code

The College of Arts & Sciences expects their students to act with integrity when producing academic work and to abide by the University Academic Conduct Code. Students should know that in all classes taught in the University, the obligation to act with academic honesty and provide one’s own thoughts and ideas is fundamental to a university education. It is the responsibility of the student to know the University Academic Conduct Code and understand what constitutes a violation of the Code. Examples of violations of the Academic Conduct Code are:

Cheating on Examination – Any attempt by a student to alter his or her performance on an examination in violation of that examination’s stated or commonly understood ground rules. Examples of this would include:

The use of a cell phone during an exam, or having a cell phone out on one’s desk while an exam is in progress

Using a calculator when the use of one has not been approved by the exam proctor

Having notes out and available during an exam

Looking at a neighbors exam or communicating with another student while taking an exam

Plagiarism – Representing the work of another as one’s own. Examples include:

Copying the answers of another student on an examination

Copying or restating the work or ideas of another person or persons in any oral or written work (printed or electronic) without citing the appropriate source and turning it in to the professor

Collaborating with someone else in an academic endeavor without acknowledging his or her contribution.

Acts of commission-appropriating the words or ideas of another-or omission failing to acknowledge/document/credit the source or creator of words or ideas

Colluding with someone else in an academic endeavor without acknowledging his or her contribution, using audio or video footage that comes from another source (including work done by another student) without permission and acknowledgement of that source.

Knowingly allowing another student to represent your work as his or her own. Examples include:

Providing a paper or lab report for a fellow student to copy or turn in as his or her own work

Misrepresentation or Falsification of Data – work presented for surveys, experiments, reports, etc., which includes but is not limited to: citing authors that do not exist; citing interviews that never took place or field work that was not completed. Examples include:

Forging a doctor’s signature on medical documentation for a professor

Altering grades or answers on an assignment, exam, transcript, etc.

Above are only a few of the violations of Boston University’s Academic Conduct Code. It is crucial that you familiarize yourself with violations of this code as unintentional violations are treated the same as intentional violations of the Academic Conduct Code. Cases of a first-time offense by a student generally gets treated as a reprimand by his or her College’s Dean and a grading penalty is put in place by the Faculty member for the course. In cases of a second offense or a first offense that is egregious, the student will need to appear before an Academic Conduct Committee who will recommend penalties such as disciplinary probation, academic suspension or even permanent dismissal from the University. Any documented violation of misconduct may be reported out to graduate schools or professional schools such as law schools and schools of medicine if they directly inquire to the University.